Project Director:Jackie LueRaia

BergenCommunity College with The Partnership for Community Health, Inc. and its partners created the Northern New Jersey Disabilities Network (NNJDN) in 2005 as an advocacy, education, and support network designed to enhance quality of life for people dealing with disabilities. It was made possible by a 2-year grant totalling $174,170 from theHenry H. Kessler Foundation.

This project addresses the growing need for a formalized system of communication, resource-sharing, and support across the K-12 system, colleges, health services providers, special education practitioners, researchers and experts, national leaders, young people with disabilities and their families. It has 3 goals:

(1) To build a network structure to foster proactive institutional connections and expand barrier-free communication and support among all stake-holders concerned with improving quality of life for people with disabilities.

(2) Develop educational programming to expand awareness and understanding of issues concerning disabilities.

(3) Make available an interactive knowledge base of institutions, information, resources, interventions, providers, and supportive services. This will help to disseminate existing expertise, identify existing service delivery gaps, expand accessibility and improve quality of service.